Pat McMillan (who spends so much time in the water we really should call him “Bob”) had a red hot go at the monstrous Urban Hotel Group Australian Ironman (or UHGAI for short).  With a total time of 11:38:13 his efforts boggle the mind.  I struggle to stay awake for 12 hours a day but Pat can go swim 4km, ride 180km and run 42km and remain standing.  I’m sure if I even attempted it the only words you would hear out of me would be “UHGAI” while clutching my chest.

Full results from here:

http://ironmanaustralia.com/athlete-information/2011-results/

(yes, it says 2011 but really it’s 2012).

Sam “the Jennerator” Jenner managed a 6th overall in the U17 division at the “Battle On The Border”, with an impressive 4th overall in the King of the Mountains.  He was 4th in the first round, 6th in the second, 13th in the third and 6th in the fourth.

http://www.qsmsports.com/newsitem.asp?id=703&orgid=19

Just a reminder that there is just over a week left to enter your team for the 100km teams time trial in Grafton on Sunday June 10th -the Long Weekend - . Thanks to the support of Clarence Valley Council and McDonalds there is a $2500 prize pool. Plus as per the event tradition any team that can break the current record that has stood for over 10 years will receive the jackpot prize. This prize jackpots annually and stands at $1,400 for 2012.

There are no day licences this year but the race is open to silver ride licence holders - join online for $77 and be insured all year.

Online entry for your team leader is here  https://wic021v.server-secure.com/vs71139_secure/nsw/login.cfm

Entry fee is one payment per team.

once the team leader is registered, teams need to be nominated through emailing Cycling NSW at Michael.Buckingham@cycling.org.au by Monday 28 May 2012.  Rider Name and licence number

race details are here  http://www.nsw.cycling.org.au/cy_nsw/races/?f=2012/12120/12120.htm and

all the info about the race and accommodation and weekend activities will be posted at  www.graftoncycleclub.com.au

in addition to the Main Race on Sunday  there are several other events that we are holding with assistance from our major sponsor Clarence Valley Council.

Saturday Night - Carb Dinner at Georgies - Booking essential

Sunday Morning Race day

Sunday Afternoon - Recovery beers and coffee at local venue

Monday Morning - Recovery Bunch ride culminating at Grafton’s Brand New Crit Track for the Grand Opening and breaky barbie.

See our website for updates as they become available

I hope to see you here for this great weekend of riding.

ashford-rr-2012

Leo LeJambre before he emigrated to Australia

Despite the ominous (and obviously conjured) clouds in the background, a good turnout on Saturday afternoon turned to chaos as rain started spitting around 15 minutes into the races.  The magical reapparance of Rob Tindale and Andrew Kirk proved a bad omen.

A grade (Andrew “Swanny” Swan, Sam “The Jennerator” Jenner, Iron Mick Hoult, Pat McMillan, Dene Bourke, Andrew Kirk, Rob Tindale) started circulating the track at a furious pace while B grade were still getting organised.

B grade (Ice Cold Billy Mara, Dave Jenner, Bob Murison, Dave “Boundy” Boundy, Mark “Haydo” Haydon, Phil “Keglegs” Thomas, “Evil” Ash Saint, Pete “Captain” Creagan) were bolstered by the surprise appearance of Roger Munday, stroking his throat and gesticulating towards his chest as a reason not to line up in A grade.  He proceeded to tear the legs off B grade, leaving Evil Ash gasping at the 10 minute mark and Bob “Meat Hammer” Murison detaching soon afterwards.  Ash perhaps could have raced in C grade from the start but the C graders looked at him with the stony faced stare of Easter Island statues given his past performances at the track.

The C grade group (Jo “Jwoww” Wauch, Karlee “Mumbles” McMillan, Dave “Ralph” Rubie and Chicka Russell) were soon joined by Ray Phillips and circulated in a tight formation, albeit overtaken very early in the race by a charging A grade keen to make up for some disappointing performances at Yarrowyck.

At this point, your humble correspondent felt something wet hit his leg and assumed he had drooled on himself (again), only to realise that the corner of his mouth wasn’t the home of a large spit bubble and that in fact it had started raining.  All hell broke loose ahead of C grade as riders from the faster grades sat up and wobbled all over the road before promptly disappearing out the gate to cower under their verandahs.  The hardier riders in all three grades simply hunkered down and kept racing - including the entire C grade race now augmented by Bob “The Meat Hammer” Murison.

Bob offered to lead out the C grade race which had turned into a fidget festival with no riders willing to attack and all riders still present from the start.  Uncharacteristically, Bob did not unleash his famous hammer and instead lead an orderly procession to the final corner.  A pathetic attack up the final hill by Ralph was quickly neutralised by Chicka and “Mumbles” who contested the sprint, Karlee victorious.

B grade was decimated by the rain and by “a bad case of the Mundays”.  Ice Cold Billy Mara remarked that he looked around behind him to see who was still there and was somewhat surprised to see nothing but thin air.  Roger won the B grade race from Captain Creagan and Ice Cold Billy Mara, earning the only prize of the day which is re-admission into  A grade.

A grade was called early as the rain actually started falling properly, soaking the track.  Iron Mick Hoult and Sam “The Jennerator” Jenner declared equal first with Swanny in 2nd.